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Suspect in Torture Is Arrested in Afghanistan Suspect in Torture Is Arrested in Afghanistan
(about 2 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan officials confirmed Sunday that they had arrested and were questioning Zakaria Kandahari, whom they have described as an Afghan-American interpreter responsible for torturing and killing civilians while working for an American Special Forces unit.KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan officials confirmed Sunday that they had arrested and were questioning Zakaria Kandahari, whom they have described as an Afghan-American interpreter responsible for torturing and killing civilians while working for an American Special Forces unit.
The arrest of Mr. Kandahari, who was sought on charges of murder, torture and abuse of prisoners, was confirmed by Maj. Gen. Manan Farahi, head of intelligence for the Afghan Defense Ministry. He said Mr. Kandahari, who escaped from an American base in January after President Hamid Karzai demanded his arrest, was captured in Kandahar by the National Directorate for Security, the Afghan intelligence service. There had been speculation for the last three weeks that Mr. Kandahari was in custody.The arrest of Mr. Kandahari, who was sought on charges of murder, torture and abuse of prisoners, was confirmed by Maj. Gen. Manan Farahi, head of intelligence for the Afghan Defense Ministry. He said Mr. Kandahari, who escaped from an American base in January after President Hamid Karzai demanded his arrest, was captured in Kandahar by the National Directorate for Security, the Afghan intelligence service. There had been speculation for the last three weeks that Mr. Kandahari was in custody.
Afghan officials had accused the American military of deliberately allowing Mr. Kandahari to escape, a claim that American officials rejected. Americans officials said that Mr. Kandahari was no longer working for them at the time and that he was not an American citizen.Afghan officials had accused the American military of deliberately allowing Mr. Kandahari to escape, a claim that American officials rejected. Americans officials said that Mr. Kandahari was no longer working for them at the time and that he was not an American citizen.
Since his arrest, Mr. Kandahari has not been in contact with the American Embassy, an American official said. “As far as we know, he is not an American citizen.”Since his arrest, Mr. Kandahari has not been in contact with the American Embassy, an American official said. “As far as we know, he is not an American citizen.”
Mr. Kandahari is believed to being held in the N.D.S.'s Unit 124, which human rights advocates have decried as a prison where torture is routine. Unit 124, across the street from the American and NATO military headquarters in Kabul, is one of the Afghan detention sites on a proscribed list by the American military, which is not allowed to transfer prisoners to facilities where torture is believed to be used. Some human rights advocates believe Mr. Kandahari is being held in the N.D.S.'s Unit 124, which they have decried as a prison where torture is routine. Unit 124, across the street from the American and NATO military headquarters in Kabul, is one of the Afghan detention sites on a proscribed list by the American military, which is not allowed to transfer prisoners to facilities where torture is believed to be used. However, that proscription does not apply to the Central Intelligence Agency, which often has personnel in Unit 124, activists say.
Mr. Kandahari is wanted in connection with the disappearances and deaths of many of 17 Afghan civilians who were detained by an American Special Forces A Team for which he worked. Afghan investigators uncovered a videotape showing Mr. Kandahari torturing one civilian, Sayid Mohammad, and said there was substantial evidence to prove that American personnel were involved in the detentions of the missing civilians. Mr. Kandahari is wanted in connection with the disappearances and deaths of many of 17 Afghan civilians who were detained by an American Special Forces A Team for which he worked. Afghan investigators uncovered a videotape showing Mr. Kandahari torturing one civilian, Sayid Mohammad, who was later found dead, and said there was substantial evidence to prove that American personnel were involved in the detentions of the missing civilians.
The bodies of 10 victims were found near the Special Forces base beginning in April, after the Americans left; the last was discovered on June 4, according to Afghan forensic investigators and family members of the victims. They had disappeared between November 2012 and February 2013.The bodies of 10 victims were found near the Special Forces base beginning in April, after the Americans left; the last was discovered on June 4, according to Afghan forensic investigators and family members of the victims. They had disappeared between November 2012 and February 2013.
The American military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday, but in May an American official insisted the A Team was not to blame for the disappearances and deaths. “We have done three investigations down there, and all absolve I.S.A.F. forces and Special Forces of all wrongdoing,” the official said, referring to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. “It is simply not true.” The American military did not respond to requests for comment on Sunday, but in May an American official insisted the A Team was not to blame for the disappearances and deaths. “We have done three investigations down there, and all absolve I.S.A.F. forces and Special Forces of all wrongdoing,” the official said, referring to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. “It is simply not true.”
A representative for Human Rights Watch in Afghanistan, Heather Barr, said: “The U.S. said they investigated thoroughly, there’s nothing there, so everyone should go away and accept their word that they checked and did nothing wrong — I don’t think that ends the discussion. There’s a lot more explaining that needs to be done that hasn’t happened yet.” A representative for Human Rights Watch in Afghanistan, Heather Barr, said: “The U.S. said they investigated thoroughly, there’s nothing there, so everyone should go away and accept their word that they checked and did nothing wrong? I don’t think that ends the discussion. There’s a lot more explaining that needs to be done that hasn’t happened yet.”
Afghan investigators said Mr. Kandahari appeared to play a leadership role, and not just that of an interpreter , in deciding who to detain for questioning. American personnel were seen at all of the arrests, according to Afghan officials, and the victims were last seen being taken onto their small base in Nerkh District of Wardak Province.Afghan investigators said Mr. Kandahari appeared to play a leadership role, and not just that of an interpreter , in deciding who to detain for questioning. American personnel were seen at all of the arrests, according to Afghan officials, and the victims were last seen being taken onto their small base in Nerkh District of Wardak Province.
Afghan officials have been unable to determine the complete function of the American base while it was operating, and believe that a C.I.A. team may have been responsible for Mr. Kandahari. Mr. Kandahari had been transferred to Nerkh from Camp Gecko in Kandahar, which is a C.I.A. substation. He was ostensibly part of a team of Afghans working for a mine-clearing aid group, which was a cover for paramilitary activity. Afghan officials have been unable to determine the composition of the American base while it was operating, and believe that a C.I.A. team working with the Special Forces unit there may have been responsible for Mr. Kandahari. Mr. Kandahari had been transferred to Nerkh from Camp Gecko in Kandahar, which is a C.I.A. substation. He was ostensibly part of a team of Afghans working for a mine-clearing aid group, which was a cover for paramilitary activity.
General Farahi said that investigators had determined that of the last 10 people who disappeared in Wardak, only in two of their cases was there any evidence of possible links with insurgents.General Farahi said that investigators had determined that of the last 10 people who disappeared in Wardak, only in two of their cases was there any evidence of possible links with insurgents.
In addition, he said, the abuse of detainees continued even after Mr. Kandahari fled when President Karzai demanded he be handed over to Afghan authorities. Four of those who were killed had been arrested after Mr. Kandahari fled, the authorities said.In addition, he said, the abuse of detainees continued even after Mr. Kandahari fled when President Karzai demanded he be handed over to Afghan authorities. Four of those who were killed had been arrested after Mr. Kandahari fled, the authorities said.
“Everybody knows and you should know that Zakaria Kandahari and these people with him were there with the Americans and were working for the Americans,” General Farahi said. “Whether they killed people on their own or were directed by the Americans to kill people, it needs extensive investigation. Now that Mr. Kandahari is in custody most of these things will become clear.”“Everybody knows and you should know that Zakaria Kandahari and these people with him were there with the Americans and were working for the Americans,” General Farahi said. “Whether they killed people on their own or were directed by the Americans to kill people, it needs extensive investigation. Now that Mr. Kandahari is in custody most of these things will become clear.”
President Karzai initially ordered all American Special Forces teams out of Wardak Province over the Nerkh affair, but later agreed to a compromise in which only the team in Nerkh would be replaced by an Afghan special forces unit, which took place in March. President Karzai initially ordered all American Special Forces teams out of Wardak Province over the Nerkh accusations, but later agreed to a compromise in which only the team in Nerkh would be replaced by an Afghan special forces unit, which took place in March.